Across 9 studies with 1,787 participants, pain was the primary reason up to 96% of endometriosis patients used cannabis, but no controlled trials exist.
People with endometriosis; gynecologists; medical cannabis researchers.
Up to 95.5% of endometriosis patients used cannabis for pain
What the researchers found
Pain indication: 57.3-95.5%. Inhaled: 51.6-80.3%. Ingested: 25-76.9%. Most studies found improvement in some patients. Adverse events: 10.2-52%, mainly euphoria and dry mouth. All 9 completed studies were cross-sectional.
Why it matters
Endometriosis affects 6-10% of reproductive-age women with limited options. Many self-medicate with cannabis but no RCTs exist.
The numbers in context
9 completed studies, 1,787 participants. Pain: 57.3-95.5%. Inhaled: 51.6-80.3%. AEs: 10.2-52%. 4 ongoing studies.
How the study worked
Scoping review of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE. 13 studies (9 completed, 4 ongoing). 1,787 participants across cross-sectional surveys.
What this study cannot tell us
All cross-sectional surveys. No placebo data. Self-reported efficacy. Wide methodological variation.
How to read the evidence
Scoping review of only cross-sectional surveys.
When this study was published
2026 review
The bigger picture
The gap between high self-medication rates and zero RCTs is striking. Ongoing studies may begin to fill this.
Questions still open
- Will ongoing studies include RCTs? Which formulations work best? How does cannabis compare to current treatments?
Common questions
Does cannabis help endometriosis pain?
How is cannabis used for endometriosis?
Read the original research
A Scoping Systematic Review of Cannabis Use in Endometriosis.
The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology, 66(1), e70081
Citation
McLaren, Kindha; Erridge, Simon; Sodergren, Mikael H. (2026). A Scoping Systematic Review of Cannabis Use in Endometriosis.. The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology, 66(1), e70081. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajo.70081
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